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Reviews For: popular communications

Category: Amateur Radio Periodicals

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Review Summary For : popular communications
Reviews: 53MSRP:
Description:
magazine for shortwave,cb,scanner listeners some amateur radio articles
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00532.1
K8SWL Rating: 2003-03-14
not much to it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been reading PopCom off and on since it's inception. I subscribed a couple times and let my subscriptions expire without renewal. In between subscriptions I would occasionally but it on the newsstand. At times I thought there was hope for a magazine that covered many topics in the most basic ways. But upon reading the most recent issues, things remain unchanged. While there is usually one article in amateur radio, I don't buy it looking for Ham material. I was an SWL before I became a Ham, and unlike most, I consider SWL'ing my primary radio hobby. Covering the basics is good, but it doesn't need to continue every months. The subject matter should grow with the readers and occasionally get back to the basics. PopCom has faied in this area.
When Tom Kneitel was editor, it was better than now, both in content and editorial opinion. Will I still buy it? On occasion I am sure I will. I tend to read everything I can find related to my hobby.
DT593 Rating: 2003-03-14
"Stale" Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If TV Guide published a "comms" type periodical it would be just like Popcomms. I have been reading it since it's inception and can't tell if I'm reading a 10 YEAR old article or a 10 MONTH old article. It is written a little too basic for most people (if you get 3 years subscription when first entering the hobby you will outgrow the magazine after a year or so. CB has a magazine dedicated to CB.. Hams have QST. I always thought Popcomm was supposed to "fill in the missing stuff that isnt available in band specific publications. It does sort of.but not enough to justify it's price. I still subscribe if for no other reason than keeping the "collection" complete. Monitoring Times is much more priceworthy....................in my opinion anyway....
The best magazine of it's type that ever existed was the "RADIO" magazine that Radio Shack used to "give away" for free (I think it had a price tag on it but never knew anyone who ever had to purchase one) Natually it was a bit "Top Heavy" with Radio Shack equipment but all in all it was a pretty good rag
Bear Western NY
N5JOB Rating: 2002-10-21
Unprofessional TERRIBLE magazine. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've always thought the magazine was for beginners only. It's mostly frequency lists and articles with very basic information. Not ALL of the articles, but many of the articles.

I let my subscription expire back in 1995. In the last few months I started buying a copy every now and then off a news-stand.

In reading the magazine I saw an article I disagreed with, and took the time and effort to contribute my opinion in the form of a courteous and professional letter to Mr. Harold Ort, the Editor of the magazine.

About one month later, I received my letter back in it's original envelope. It had the word "REFUSED" scribbled across it. I could tell the envelope had been opened, so I looked inside.

Mr. Ort had opened the letter, read it, TORE IT UP, placed the pieces back into the envelope, resealed it, and gave it back to the U.S. Post Office as "REFUSED" mail.

This outrageous treatment by Mr. Harold Ort (Editor of P.C.) of a reader (myself) who had taken the time to write with a concern is inexcusable. It reflects poorly upon Popular Communications magazine. No reply would have been more professional!

After this horrible treatment I will NEVER buy a copy of Popular Communications magazine AGAIN. There's a lot better out there, believe me!
G3SEA Rating: 2002-10-20
Poor value for the money Time Owned: N.A.

From what I have seen on the newstands Popular Communications pales by comparison with Monitoring Times.Monitoring Times has far more detailed information and their International
Broadcast Frequency Listings are invaluable ( for those of us who enjoy a break from the
HF Ham band activity :) ).

Monitoring Times is simply a superior publication.
VE4MM Rating: 2002-10-20
Lacking Good Articles Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Full of ads.....same old stuff each month.

Just as bad a S9 - CB Magazine.

No meat.
W9DPY Rating: 2002-08-12
Covers All Radio, Not Just Ham Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I don't think I have ever seen so much negative press in this forum. Pop'Comm is for all aspects of radio, not just amateur radio. I believe it went through a slump about two years ago, but is getting better every issue. OK, it does cover some topics that ham's usually get worked up about (CB, 11 meter DX, Pirate Broadcasting). It also covers ham, general communication product review and other radio services (GMRS, FRS, etc...). As to MT being a better periodical, I don't know about that. It's a good magazine totally overshadowed by Bob Grove and his opinions. They are usually good opinions, but certinally not unbiased.
K4TIN Rating: 2002-08-12
Not an amateur periodical Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have read some good articles in Pop Com of historical interest. But the major direction of the magazine is advancing the cause of the "freebander" of "HFer." Many of these bozos are sporting modified amateur transceivers and big amps. Which brings us back to an unpleasant subject for some: the old Morse Code. Our lovely, timeless amateur language has always been a barrier between the the lawless and the law-abiding. I have yet to meet the Good Buddy who knows it!
ADAM12 Rating: 2002-08-05
Fascinating Stuff ! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well, I don't know what the magazine used to be like as I only started reading it about 4 months ago. Based on the issues I've read, I think it's a wonderful magazine and one of the best radio mags available. It has ham radio articles and reviews, short wave articles, fascinating articles about aviation and maritime radio, etc. and I found very little on CB radio or "illegal" operation (as some have said). I'd rate it higher than Monitoring Times (and I've been reading that for years). Why not give it another look, it may have changed for the better !
KD5DFM Rating: 2002-07-13
not what it use to be Time Owned: more than 12 months.
pop com should go back to the swl and ham articals it use to have. i dont mind a few articals on cb but they have gone too far and too many articals in that vein.way to many ads and too little in content .
K3PI Rating: 2002-05-05
So Untimely Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with the comments about content. My biggest gripe with PopComm is how old the material is. By the time the magazine is out,news is 4 months old and was carried at least 2 months earlier by MT.

MT is heads and shoulders above PopComm.

I did enjoy the series they did about AM radio stations. They would do a fairly in-depth story about a radio station each issue.